NEW YORK CITY - THE VISITOR

City of Lights Vibes.

So I've arrived! I'm here, in this big bad city... alone... kind of but not really 

To be honest, I am totally overwhelmed, excited, exhausted, almost broke and sometimes filled with intense homesickness - you know the feeling? You know it, man... those "What the fuck am I doing?!" moments.

I am officially the insane 20-something who quit a perfectly good job, left her amazing boyfriend in her well-designed flat to go live in an Airbnb with a total stranger and dog in Brooklyn. Breathe deep. Don't have a panic attack. Breathe.

Still trying to figure everything out. Still. 

But life is all about learning, growing, adapting to changes and making it all work for you. 

First thing to know about NYC is that everyone is either painfully cool/stylish, beautiful or recently had a mental breakdown. The lifestyle is so fast paced and everything is expensive. You can't leave your house without dropping at least $50. 

London underground trains aka "The Tube/The Underground" are a very polite space. People respect the rules that blast over the intercom in that posh lady accent. They stand on the right and walk on the left. They wait for fellow Londoners to exit the carriage before entering. They avoid eye contact like the plague. 

NYC is SO friendly and talkative. American people will speak to you in the streets/train/queue like you're an old friend. Honestly, my first day here this really nice lady struck up conversation with me about my height and the height of my parents and siblings - so many questions and jokes, we were chatting for so long I missed my stop and had to take 2 trains to find my way again. Rookie error.

Corner shops aka "Bodegas" in NYC do not sell alcohol. They sell salads, sandwiches and useless fattening snacks. Everyone in America says liquor not alcohol, and to buy liquor one has to find specific liquor-only stores. Its not that hard, but I was just surprised by this because England and Jamaica don't work this way. 

The bus system is intimidating and I still haven't even tried it yet. 

A lot of grown ass people in NYC play games on their phones on loud on public transport. Very annoying. 

But at least consistency lies in the fact that no matter where you go in the world when you open your phone on the front camera when you're lying in bed it is one of the most humbling experiences. 

She's a badass explorer

Just bouncing along folks... we will see what the next few months have in store for me.

Please leave any tips and tricks for NYC in the comments below! 

x o x o

Tasmin

BODYISM, LONDON - Be Kind to yourself

Any fitness class that starts with a shot has to be a good time, right?

'Bodyism Warrior' is the signature class at James Duigan's Notting Hill members-only wellness studio - Bodyism. Before each class you are given a delicious 'Berry Blast' shot filled with acai, green tea and amino acids to rev up your metabolism, boost energy and help burn fat.

I  was invited to take a complimentary class at the studio after stopping by the 'Clean & Lean' cafe a few weeks ago.

Bodyism is famous for whipping super bodies into shape like Rosie Huntington-Whitely, David Gandy, Pippa Middleton and the forever iconic Elle Macpherson.

The lights in the studios are designed to provide additional Vitamin D and the air is specially purified and oxygenated for maximum wellness effect.

photo above from my gym twin @vivalevee 

Best guy, standing gaurd

We were greeted by a lovely girl (and that dog above) who gave us a tour of the facilities and explained membership options. She explained that the focus of the club is 'optimal health', and made sure to let me know it's exclusive and members-only. Membership includes a welcome pack, classes (depending on which membership tier you purchase) and discounts at the cafe and beauty treatment centre. Membership begins at £110 per month for the basic package up to £30,000 per year (yes, you read that right)

The signature class is about an hour long - it's fusion of yoga stretching, High Intensity Interval Training for fat loss (like high knees and even crawling around on all fours like an animal, that part was really funny) and Pilates for toning.

During the class it felt like we weren't working that hard. I wasn't panting or sweating like the classes at the other boutique gyms I've been to. But today, I can definitely feel it! Sneaky and effective.

After the class I treated myself to a gluten free, diary free, refined sugar free (fun free) yet somehow still delicious chocolate chip 'Life Changing Cookie' and a 'Body Brilliance' Smoothie - tag line: the Supermodels secret weapon (I'm a sucker for marketing)

We were encouraged to try the signature 'Bulletproof coffee' - shot of espresso, organic butter and coconut oil, but I wasn't feeling for any caffeine. Maybe I will try make it at home.

Sticker from Anya Hindmarch

Then we went to have a very late lunch at Granger & Co.which is only a few minutes walk away. Westbourne Grove is one of my favourite parts of London!

Photo above from google.com/images

Scrambled eggs and sourdough toast (with yummy melted butter)

Verdict

The experience was Amazing. I love the mantra - be kind to yourself and taking wellness as an experience and a lifestyle. 

Maybe one day when I have enough spare time and cash I'll take the membership... but for now the smoothies, and cookies will be just fine.

x o x o

TROPICAL CHRISTMAS - WAVY, BABY

Ah, Maiden Cay (Lime Cays likkle badgyal sister). 

I think the name Maiden Cay is funny and ironic considering how bad people get on out there. The combination of rum, sun and half naked people can only mean one thing; wildness. 

ICONIC image. I don't know who took it, but if you're from Kingston you know this photo.

Photo from Pintrest

We went out on a yacht with a big group of people. The best part of endless summer seasons is bikinis. For this trip I chose a party bikini rather than one actually meant for swimming.

It rained a bit in the morning and so the sea was choppy and dark, but then there was a beautiful rainbow over Kingston that made the rain worth it. Can you spot it in the video? 

Dreamy.

x o x o 

TROCIAL CHRISTMAS - CASTAWAY

My European friends are always amazed at the thought of a sunny Christmas. Anybody who has watched TV knows that Christmas = fireplaces, snow, reindeer and white Santa Claus in a wooly red hat etc.

In Jamaica we still have the Santa Claus but he's usually black... sometimes skinny. I imagine he's really sweaty and hot running around in his red woollies. My mummy used to tell me that Santa had to slip through the bars on the windows instead of down the chimney, because people don't generally have fireplaces in the Caribbean.

We spend most of the time outdoors, usually on veranda's or terraces next to pools or the ocean. I ate Christmas brunch on a bamboo chair in the sunshine wearing a dress.

On my second day we took a canoe out to Lime Cay, a tiny tiny little island about 20 minutes off the coast of Kingston. It's about the size of a football field with nothing on it except sand and some wild trees. My friend said she felt like Robinson Crusoe. 


Lime Cay essentials:

Sunblock (The sun out there is no joke)
Towel
Sarong
Bikini
Appleton Rum (VX if you're flossin, Special if you're not)
Coconut Water (for chaser)
Water (so you don't get heat stroke)
Lighter
Ganja
Rizzla (Raws, please)
Some cash for the canoe man ($1500 JMD or $15 USD round trip)
Iphone camera
Food! (We ate about 20 bags of plantain chips, but usually people bring KFC)

photo above from http://absolutetraveladdict.com/2012/12/20/lime-cay-beach-port-royal-kingston-jamaica/

So who wants to come visit? 

x o x o

STRAWBERRY HILL, JAMAICA

It's that time of year again! Christmas on my paradise island.

After months of being away from home I took two flights and I'm here, and now I don't want to leave. 

The past few days have been a whirlwind of family, parties, reggae music, sun and rum.

Strawberry Hill Hotel is a magical space perched high up the Blue Mountains above Kingston. This hotel has a really interesting history and is currently owned by Chris Blackwell - founder of the Island Records label. 

Blackwell is the music industry icon that released Bob Marley & the Wailers first album "Catch A Fire". According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to which Blackwell was inducted in 2001, he is the single person most responsible for turning the world on to reggae music. 

Strawberry Hill has been a haven for musicians, artists and creatives from Bob Marley and Grace Jones to U2 and The Rolling Stones. 



The roads up the mountain are windy and have pot holes galore. It's a pretty intense drive if you're not used to it. As you climb up from Kingston the air gets very cool and the vegetation changes from tropical palm trees to rainforest firs and bamboo.

We drove up in the afternoon to have Jamaica's world famous Blue Mountain coffee and watch the sunset.

The property was designed by one of Jamaica's most respected architects - Ann Hodges. 

There are several secluded villas, a restaurant and beautiful spa, amongst other luxuries. I have been up here for a yoga class on the pavilion in the photo below, over looking a vast green valley. After yoga the hotel provided brunch and cocktails or coffee. 

First day back on the rock and it was magical. My little piece of heaven, I missed you.